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Green

As expected on the basis of the two different yellows previously commented, two different greens were detected on the manuscript, both of them obtained by mixing or superimposing Maya blue and one of the two yellow colors used in the manuscript. In fact, in all green areas, mid-FTIR analysis detected palygorskite, the inorganic substrate of Maya blue and UV-Vis reflectance allowed the conclusive identification of the pigment. The dense, covering appearance of both the Codex Mendoza’s greens is thus clearly related to the use of Maya blue.

The yellow chromatic component of the first of the two greens (folio 2r: thatch of the upper temple and folio 37r: darker area of the headdress’s feathers) is orpiment. The second green contains the yellow dye used for some of the yellow areas. This green was detected on the cactus on folio 2r and in both shades of the green feathers of the central warrior, in the third register of folio 64r. On the reeds on folio 2r and on the lighter shade of the headdress feathers on folio 37r, As is present only in low amounts. We cannot state with certainty which of the two greens was used, since the low amount of As could be due to the thin layer of highly diluted coloring material.